Beneath a Dark Highland Sky: Book #3 Read Online Free PDF Page B

the weapon with a sort of horror, for it had taken a man’s life. Probably many men’s lives, for James the Second was fond of battle and war, his temper easily provoked.
    “A great man needs a powerful blade when he rides across Scotland, for enemies, like the accursed wind and rain, are always and forever at his back. Indeed, sometimes it seems there are as many enemies as there are drops of rain, especially when yer a king. And then there are the Sassenach, always with their greedy fingers digging in Scotland’s pie.”
    “I thank ye, yer Grace, for such a valuable and powerful gift and I will keep it well.”
                  Through the large windows Malcolm could see fat rain clouds low in the sky. He studied the king’s determined face in the gauzy shadows of the half-darkened room.
    “That is nae all, Malcolm,” James said. ‘I have recently declared many Douglas lands forfeit and annexed them to the crown. Do ye ken what that means?”
    Malcolm shook his head.
    “It means I will need strong men to manage my lands. To keep the enemy from rising up again. I am giving ye some of that land…and I see a wife in yer future!”
    Malcolm almost dropped the fierce, jeweled blade he held in his hand to the richly carpeted floor. ‘Twas a red and gold carpet, for there were no plain rushes on the floor of a king’s apartment. “A… wife ?”
    “Dunna fash yerself, lad. When ye come of age, years from now, ye will ha’e this land and ye will marry a Douglas girl with the promise of beauty. She is the daughter of Murry Douglas, slain at Arkinholm. I ha’e confiscated the Douglas estates and destroyed a good many of them. But this estate has a good strategic position and so I willna tear it down. It will be yers one day. In the meantime, the border families who ha’e supported me will keep the surviving Douglases in check. Ye ken there is more than one way to bring an enemy to heel. The Douglas clan will ne’er again challenge the crown, nae on my watch. Scotland must forever be united behind its king. I ha’e made it so. I ha’e done what my father couldna.” He sighed. “Alas, a king’s work is ne’er done and I must continue to safeguard my gains.”
    “Thank ye, yer Grace.” Malcolm frowned. “Forgive me, yer Grace, but marrying a Douglas lass, a Lowlander , is that more a punishment than a reward?”
    Fortunately, the king was not insulted by Malcolm’s words. He tipped back his head and roared with laughter, his whole face shaking and his red birthmark seeming to dance.
                  “I like ye, Malcolm Maclean. I like ye heartily. Now, let us eat and drink. We will ha’e no more talk of the future, for today we ha’e sealed it. Let us celebrate the present!”
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    4
     
    Thirteen Years Later
    Late Spring, 1468
     
    “Do ye think it wise, my lady? ‘Tis a dangerous game we will play, with a vera dangerous man.”
    Sorcha Douglas looked at her maid servant, admiring one of her finest gowns on the girl’s trim figure. Nessa wore Sorcha’s white silk gown trimmed with gold braid, with a long tight bodice and sleeves with a trailing edge. Shiny pearls were entwined in her golden hair, which trailed down her back in a braid.
    “Ye make a fine lady, Nessa, but do stop twisting yer hands so. Remember, dunna fidget in front of the Highlander. Ye’ll appear as nervous as a cat in the presence of a starving hound.”
    “I am nervous!” Nessa said, but she managed to stop fidgeting. “What are ye thinking, Sorcha?” she asked.
    “I’d like to take a warming pan to the man’s head!”
    Nessa clapped a hand over her mouth and giggled.
    Sorcha frowned. “Like ye, I can ne’er forget King James the Second declared our land forfeit after we were defeated at Arkinholm. ‘Twas a harsh spring neither of us wants to remember.
    “King James gave our land and our keep to a Highlander to inherit when he came of age and